Apparatus for hanging tobacco



Manda 20, 1934. G. D. HARRIS APPARATUS FOR HANGING TOBACCO Filed Sept. 15, 1930 Patented Mar. 20, 1934 irs srArss 1,951,930 APPARATUS FOR HANGING TOBACCO Gordon Bon Harris, Sound Beach, Conn., as-

signor to The Industrial Dryer Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application september 15, 1939, serial No. 482,083

Claims.

'This 'invention relates to the treatment of tobacco .and more particularly hasv reference to methods and apparatus for suspending hands of tobacco, during treatment.

Heretoiore in the treatment of Vtobacco with gases to dry or condition `the same, the tobacco is generally placed in bundles .which are known as hands. A plurality of hands of tobacco are arranged on that is termed tobacco carrying sticks. These sticks are positioned within the treating chambers of the tobacco conditioning apparatus in any desired number. The treating apparatus in many instances is constructed so that a plurality of the tobacco carrying sticks are arranged therein either iixedly or detachably.

Hands of tobacco to be treated are held in the desired spaced relation bymeans of the tobacco carrying sticks. One method of positioning the hands of tobacco on the sticks comprises separating the leaves of tobacco constituting a hand into two equal portions and placing the hand over the stick so that the two equal portions of leaves straddle the stick. In this instance the stick may be made triangular so as to'better iit the hand of tobacco straddlingthesame. Other developmentsv have been made in'which the hands of tobaccov are attached to the tobacco carrying sticks by various devices. Forinstance, J the hands of tobacco may be attached tosticks by spring clips or other means for frictionally retainn ing the same in engagement with the sticks. In other instances, wire hooks are provided, -adapted to pierce the stems of the tobacco'fso as to retain the same in engagement with `the sticks. `Still other devices consist of prongs f' or wire attachments for passing between the leaves of 'tobacco so as to hold the same in proper relation to the tobacco carryingsticks.

While many vdevelopments have been made in the prior art to produce a variety of means for suspending the tobacco in the treating chamber, nevertheless, there is as yet no device which serves adequately to support and spread the leaves of tobacco so as to permit themost advantageous access of the conditioninggas to all portions of.

the tobacco undergoing treatment. f

The major object of this invention is to devise apparatus for hanging tobacco in a treating apparatus which avoids the disadvantages inherent in the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for suspending tobacco in a treating chamber so as to permit the maximum degree of iaccess of the conditioning gas to all portions of the tobacco undergoing treatment.

Still another object oi this invention is to provide apparatus for hanginggtobacco in a manner so as to support and spread the leaves thereof and yet engage the tobacco at only three lines of contact.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a tobacco carrying stick onto which hands oi' tobacco may be placed and removed in a most advantageous manner and which will support and spread the leaves of the tobacco hand.

in accordance with the present invention, a plurality oi devices are associated with the topacco carrying stick by means ci Which, hands of tobacco are supported by the stick. The devices may be formed from Wire-like material or material in other forms and are preferably shaped so as to substantially Yproduce a skeleton or" a triangular prism. it has been found advantageous in many instances to form the devices i'cr supporting tobacco by the carrying sticks of a plurality of loops in the form of a U U. Each loop in the UU-loop is preferably arranged so; that the plane in which one loop lies isat an angle to thatrn which the other loop lies.' When completed the UU-loop is in the form o a skeleton triangular prism and may be `attached in any suitable manner to the tobacco carrying stick.

Inorder to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the same into practical eiect without limiting the improvements in their useiul applications to the particular constructions which, for thepurpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tobacco carrying stick or lath on which is arranged a plurality of devices constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side View of one or" the devices shown in Figure 1 attached to the tobacco stick.

FigureS shows `a device somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 1 modied as to the manner of attaching the same to the tobacco carrying stick.

Figure 4 illustrates still another modification of the device for supporting tobacco by the stick.

Figure 5 shows a still further modified form of the present invention in which the hands of the tobacco carrying device are formed so as to clasp the tobacco carrying stick or lath.

Figure 6 showsv still another modified form of the invention analogous to that shown in Figure 5 but formed in a somewhat different manner.

Figure 7 illustrates a form of the invention in Which the free ends of the loops constitute the attachment and are formed so as to engage four sides of the square tobacco carrying stick.

Figure 8 is another modified form of the in- Vention in which a tobacco attach-ing device extends vfrom each side of the tobacco carrying stick or lath.

Figure 9 is a view disclosing a still further modied form of the invention which illustrates the broad concept of carrying the same into effect.

As shown in the drawing the lpresent invention comprises providing a pluralityof lattaching devices on a stick or lath -of the A.type adapted to be positioned within the .treating chamber of a tobacco conditioning device. As hereinbefore pointed out, the prior art devices did not serve to both support and spread the leaves of a hand 'of tobacco `so -as to perm-it the maximum 4access of 4the treating vgas toall .portions of the tobacco.

One of `the most 'commonly employed devices for suspending tobacco in a treating Achamber is the so-called triangular tobacco carryingstick or lath over which thehands of tobacco are strad- -dled. lThis type rof tobacco stick lor lath uis `disadvantageous in vthat a large portion -of -the tobaccc leaves are infengagement with the Asurfaces of the stick or lath and thereby .could -not -receive access to the conditioning gas. Necessarily thislack of access Ito the conditioning gas would cause non-uniform conditioning of -the leaves of tobacco, and thereby 4cause a waste and 4the production of linferior tobacco. This feature is-particularly disadvantageous-in the `case of. preparation Lof leaves of tobacco for cigar wrappers `in which instance leaves of highest quality are re- The. present invention overcomesthe prior art disadvantages by providing a skeleton-like triangulanprism attachment for .the tobaccofcarrying stick over-which the hands of tobacco may s beplaced. As shown in the severalgures of the drawing, aplurality of the skeleton-like'triangular..prisms indicated generally by reference, numeral 1 are arranged on a tobacco `carrying stick2. i

' The attachments `1 .mayconsist of a plurality of .U-loops 3 and 4 lwhich have their Vfree ends secured to a sleeve 5 adapted vto besnugly received `on .the tobacco carrying stick or lath-,2. The fU-loops are arranged so as-to..project horizontally from the tobacco carrying stickand are also positioned so `thatthe legs 6 and '7 .of ythe loops 3 and 4 respectively lie.in juxtaposition and sothat the legsa8 and 9 of theloops Sfand 4 respectively are spaced apart a distance .approximating .the width of the loops. This construction when completed gives the appearance of -a skeleton of a triangular prism, the two legs 6 and 7 of the loops 3 and 4 being so closely arranged as to give the appearance'of oneof each of the triangular prisms and the legs 8 and 9 serving as the other two edges of the triangular prism. The vfree ends'iof' the loops maybe attached tothe sleeves 5 in any desired manner and the sleeves 5j may be Ysecured to' the tobaccocarrying` stick or Vlathi by `any means, for' instance, such 4as the nails 10 shownl -iirFigu'res 1 and 2.

When'assembled on'rthe tobacco carryingv stick thedevices 1 arespaced apart fa distancedepending upon-the sizeof the tobacco. hands ,being treated. After the-attachments 1 `are properly spaced on the tobacco carrying sticks, the hands of tobacco may be placed over the attachments, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. When a hand of tobacco is positioned over the attachment, the apex of the skeleton triangular prism formed by the legs 6 and 7 of the loops 3 and 4 serves as a means for supporting the hand of tobacco and the legs 8 and 9 `of the loops 3 and 4 respectively `serve ras means `for `spreading the leaves apart so as to permit the access of the conditioning gas thereto.

It will be obvious that when the hand of tobacco is supported by the attachments 1, that there will 'be substantially only three lines of contact Vbetween the tobacco leaves and the attachments 1. One of these will be up near the stem or butt portion of .the leaves, which is immaterial, and the other two will be at a somewhat lower point ofthe leaves as shown in Figure 1.

It will be appreciated that this device is a material improvement over the heretofore employed triangular sticksrcr laths which prevent Vaccess of the conditioning .gas to a relatively large sur'- Vface of 4the tobacco leaves.

While the devices shown Ii-n .Figures 1 and 2 both loops can be formedofa singlepiecefof wire,

After forming 4the UU, the loops of Athe -U-U may :have been describedas being `formedfof a Apair of y.LJ-loops, I Wish lit to lbeclearly understood that be bent relatively toeach other to:form a skele- `ton of ka triangular .prism vas hereinbefore mentioned.

In order to'illustrate .the susceptibilityof ythe present `invention to modification, -I Vhave shown in the several gurescf thedrawing manyand varied modifications of means -ior y.attaching ^the devices to the `tobacco carrying .stick or lath. In VFigure 53, lfor instance, the freeendsof the UU-loop are shaped lso as to providefeyelets 1l through which .attaching yelements -12 Amay yloe passed to secure .the skeleton-like triangular prism to ,the :tobacco -carrying stick 2. This form may prove advantageous in .certain .instancesfwhen `it .is Vundesirable-.to vemploy the sleeves ghereinbefore: described.

If found desirable, the .present Y invention may also Yloe modiedfsofas -notto requirethe use of any vattaching means. In Figure 4,-for;instance, the'central leg '.of :the '.-UU :indicated .by `the referencenumerals '6 zand 7,:has its free end .bent downwardly .as .at :13, .so as to .clasp vthe tobacco carrying .stick 2. .The lfree endsof vthelegs 8 and9of theiUU--loop-Ia-reibent upwardly as .at 4 so ias .to :more securely :attach the :device 1 to the tobaccol carryingfstick. Ifv desired,.this form of thefinventionfimay' be afurther modified by .providing sockets .or recesses in the tobacco .carrying stick 2 into Which the free :ends of the legs of the 1U Ueloop maybe inserted. 'Ihisrlatter form of the inventionfhas-not been. illustrated,ybut.it is-.believedthatfwith the showing in-.Figure 4. and the disclosure: herein,.that itv maybe. readily understood.

Another formfof the` present invention is. shown inFigure-f, in which :theLfree-en'd ofthe central leg of the UU-loopgisbent downwardly Yat..`l5,.then horizontally =at11f6, upwardly. at 17, Aand horizontally iny theoppositefdirection at'18. -By so shaping the free-end of thefcentralL leg of the -U U- loop, engagement is eiected betweenlthe vends of the 4rloop and all :four sidescf the,tobacco carrying stick .2. :Thisrgives arather tight #fritting engagement between the attachment 1` and thgloop and`9 have their freeV ends bent upwa'rdly at 19, horizontally at'20, andjdownwardly at 21, so'that three sides of the tobacco carrying stick are engaged. With the arrangement just described,l the attachment isA securely iixed to the "tobacco 'carrying 'stick' and may. not be accidentally displaced.

In Figure 6 there is shown another ,modication of the means of attaching' the device. ijto the tobacco carrying stick. AThis form consists of a structure in which the central legs of the UU-lo'op 6 and 'l lare bent downwardly at 22 and horizontally at 23 to effect a two-'surface engage-- ment between the tobacco carrying stick and the central leg of the ULI-loop. The legs 8 and 9 of the loop are 'constructed similarly to the`form shown in Figure 5 and are indicated by similar reference numerals'primed. 1

A stillfurther modification of the invention is shown in Figure l in which the central. leg of the loop is bent back upon itself yat 24, then down` wardly at 25, horizontally in theoppositedirection at 26, and then upwardly at 27. By so forming the free end of the central leg of the UU- loop a somewhat stronger construction is aorded than in the foregoing illustrations. The outside legs of the loop are formed somewhat similarly to those shown in Figures 5 and 6 but consist N of additional extensions 28 adapted to engage the 30 bottom surface of the tobacco carrying stick 2.

The construction just described, it will be appreciated, contains sufficient bends so as to provide enough engaging surfaces between the device 1 and the tobacco carrying stick 2 to per- `mit the device to carry relatively heavy hands of tobacco without placing much strain on the joint between the device and the tobacco carrying stick. v

In order to illustrate the broadest concept of Lthe present invention, I have shown in Figure-9 a construction which consists of three members arranged in the form of a skeleton of a triangular prism, adapted to support a hand of tobacco. This construction consists of a plurality yof members 29, 30, 31 of any desired form, attached to a sleeve 5, adapted to be fitted on a tobacco carrying stick 2. The member 29 serves as the support for the hand of tobacco and if desired, may be constructed more heavily than the members 30 and 31, which serve merely to spread the leaves of tobacco a sufficient distance to permit access of the gas thereto.

While this form of the invention has been described as consisting of a plurality of members attached to sleeve 5, I wish it to be clearly understood that the members 29, 30, 31 may be inserted directly in the tobacco carrying stick 2, in which instance sleeve 5 will not be necessary. Also the free ends of the members 29, 30, 31 may be rounded in any desired manner so as to avoid any tearing of the tobacco leaves, while placing the hands of the tobacco on the attachment or removing the same therefrom. One manner of preventing tearing of the tobacco leaves is to bend the free ends of the members 29, 30, 31 inwardly, as shown in Figure 9. If desired, the inwardly bent ends of the members 29, 30, 31, may be connected by soldering, welding or any other manner so as to absolutely avoid any sharp edges which may tear the tobacco leaves.

@may be extended from both sides or the tobacco carrying stick as "shown in Figure 3. For the purpose otl illustration, the form of invention which consists of the sleeve 5, has been shown in the figure, but it should be clearly understood that any of the other forms shown may be modiedso as to extend from both sides of the tobacco carrying stick.

Devices constructed in accordance with the present invention are of particular advantage in the tobacco industry in that hands of tobacco may be 'supported thereby in a manner so as to permit the maximum access of the conditioning gasto all portions of the tobacco leaves. The invention herein described is also of advantage inthat a plurality of the devices disclosed may be arranged on the so-called tobacco carrying sticks or laths and the hands of tobacco placed thereon without any danger of tearing or other- Wise damaging tobacco leaves. When it is desired to unload the treating chamber of the tobacco conditioning apparatus, it is merely necessary to remove the sticks or laths 2 from their supports, andtilt vthe same so asv to permit the hands of tobacco to slide off into a suitable receptacle. In vthe form of invention showing the attachments extending from both sides of thek tobacco carrying stick, it will merely be necessary to tilt the stick rst in one direction and then in the other to remove tobacco hands from both sides of the attachments.

I have found by actual experience that it is advisable to construct the attachments herein disclosed of material not susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion would cause the accumulation of incrustations on the metal and would probably damage the tobacco leaves. For instance, when constructing the device of copper wire, it is desirable to tin or otherwise plate the wire so as to avoid corrosion. Of course, suitable alloys resistant to corrosion, such as occurs in tobacco treating apparatus, may also be employed as material for constructing the devices disclosed.

I claim:

l. A tobacco hanger comprising a stick and means carried by the stick for supporting and spreading the leaves of a hand of tobacco, said means comprising a pair of U-shaped loops secured to and extending from the side of the stick, and arranged to support and spread the tobacco by three-point engagement therewith.

2. A tobacco hanger comprising a stick and means secured to the stick for supporting and spreading the leaves of a hand. of tobacco, said means comprising a pair of U-shaped loops extending from the side of the stick, one leg of one loop being positioned in juxtaposition to one leg of the other loop and the other legs being spaced apart.

3. A tobacco hanger comprising a stick, means secured to and extending from the side of the stick adjacent the top thereof to support a hand of tobacco and means secured to and extending from the stick adjacent the lower portion thereof for spreading the leaves of the hand.

4. A tobacco hanger comprising a. tobacco carrying stick, means for supporting tobacco thereby, said means consisting of a sleeve adapted to snugly engage the stick and a pair of U-shaped loops, the open ends of which are secured to said sleeve.

5. A tobacco hanger comprising a tobacco carrying stick, means for supporting tobacco thereby, said means consisting of a sleeve adapted to snugly engage the stick and a double U-shaped loop assembly, one loop lying in a plane at an angle to that in which the other loop lies, the open ends of the loops bein'g'secured tothe'sleeve.

"'6. A device for hangingtobacco, on a tobacco carrying stick comprising a Wire like member having the form of a U U loop, the L J 'portions'oi said loop being positioned in angular relationshipto each other so' that the legs thereof form a skeleton of a triangular prism, and means for attaching the loop to the carrying Stick.

7. A device for hanging tobacco` on a tobacco carrying stick comprising a Wire like member having the form of a U U loop, the U portions of said loopbeing positioned in angular "relationship to each other so that the legs thereof forma skeleton of a triangular prism, a holding member mounted on said stick, and a sleeve adapted to be non-rotatably mounted on the tobacco carrying stick by being joined to said lholding means, the open ends of said loops being attached thereto.

V8. A device for hanging tobacco on a tobacco carrying stick comprising a Wire like member having the form of a UU loop, the U portions of said loop being positioned in angular relationship to each other so that the legs thereof form a ser.

skeleten sf s triangular. prism the snes of, said loops having eyelets ferme@ therein fer sttsshiiig thlsldsviss is the tbss sf' 11s stisk-f 91A @basics hanging devise eempfsins s te* has@ Carrying stick, means for 'slirimihg t0.- baco thereby, said maxisc ,sistiiie' of a sleeve adapted to snugly 'engage'the stick, a pair o f U- slispsd. loops, Qns lsep @eine rsitdiisd in s plane at 'an angle to that in which the other loop lies the @Deli @eds 0f which airs secured t0 said sleeve soesto extend from one l'side thereof, and a p luralitv qf Similar IOQDS extending from -the' other side of said sleeve.

' 10- A @besse hanging structure comprising s tobacco carrying stick, 'a skeleton'like Atriangular prism of bent `wires with 'substantially parallel portions secured to and egitending horizontally from one side f the spiel; and a, similar 'skeleton like triangular ,prism secured to and extending irjm'the other sie@ Qf'sad stick; each 'of' said slfzelewn like prisms being 'adapted to Support and spread s hand Qf 'tQbss-ss sind 'sngssiths same only at three'lines4 of Contact.

GORDON DON HARRIS. 

